Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre defends HMT land action, says forest land cannot be diverted
Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre is defending the state government's move to reclaim HMT land in Bengaluru, classifying it as protected forest land. The issue has sparked a political dispute with Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who opposes the government's actions regarding the land's status.
Why it matters
The conflict illustrates the tension between urban development, environmental conservation, and political jurisdiction over land use.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre on Saturday (July 11, 2026) strongly defended the Karnataka government’s move to reclaim the HMT land in north Bengaluru , asserting that the land is legally classified as forest and would remain so unless it had been validly diverted for non-forest purposes.
Responding to allegations made by Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy , Mr. Khandre maintained that the government’s objective was to preserve one of Bengaluru’s largest remaining green spaces and develop it into a public park larger than Lalbagh and Cubbon Park.
“I have no personal animosity towards Mr. Kumaraswamy. My concern is to protect this green lung for the people of Bengaluru. The HMT land is forest land and belongs to the State,” he said.
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